Design and Technical Validation of a Telemedicine Service for Rural Healthcare in Ecuador.

Background: Telemedicine is becoming increasingly important in Ecuador, especially in areas such as rural primary healthcare and medical education. Rural telemedicine programs in the country need to be strengthened by means of a technological platform adapted to local surroundings and offering advantages such as access to specialized care, continuing education, and so on, combined with modest investment requirements.

Introduction: This present article presents the design of a Telemedicine Platform (TMP) for rural healthcare services in Ecuador and a preliminary technical validation with medical students and teachers.

Prevalence of High-Risk Genotypes of Human Papillomavirus: Women Diagnosed with Premalignant and Malignant Pap Smear Tests in Southern Ecuador.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the primary infectious agent for the development of cervical cancer, although the presence of the virus alone is insufficient for viral development and proliferation; this can be attributed to the increase in potential oncogenic risk, along with other risk factors. In the present investigation, the prevalence of high-risk HPV was determined from samples of premalignant or malignant cervical cytology in women from the southern region of Ecuador. The kit we used was able to detect genotypes 16, 18, 31, 33, 35, 39, 45, 51, 52, 56, 58, and 59.

Circulating tumour cells in locally advanced breast cancer.

Material And Methods: A prospective study was conducted to determine the value of changes in circulating tumour cell (CTC) levels prior to and after the first cycle of neoadjuvant treatment in early prediction of pathologic response in locally advanced breast cancer (LABC). Two blood samples were obtained from 72 eligible LABC patients to isolate and enumerate CTCs before neoadjuvant chemotherapy started on day 1, and on day 21, immediately before second cycle administration.

Results: Sixty patients (83.

Prognostic and predictive markers of benefit from adjuvant chemotherapy in early-stage non-small cell lung cancer.

Lung cancer-predominantly non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)-is the leading cause of death from cancer in most industrialized countries. Patients with early-stage NSCLC are at substantial risk for recurrence and death even after potentially curative surgery. Multiple large randomized trials have demonstrated that adjuvant chemotherapy using modern cisplatin-based regimens can significantly improve 5-year survival in carefully selected patients with NSCLC.

Bevacizumab in combination with metronomic chemotherapy in patients with anthracycline- and taxane-refractory breast cancer.

A vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) inhibitor might enhance metronomic chemotherapy in previously treated metastatic breast cancer (MBC) patients. Anthracycline and taxane refractory MBC patients were given cyclophosphamide 50 mg p.o.

Adjuvant chemotherapy for early-stage non-small-cell lung cancer. Single-centre experience and literature review.

Background: In recent years platinum-based chemotherapy has become the standard of care for patients with good performance status after complete resection in stages IB-IIIA non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), although the benefit is mainly in stages II and IIIA.

Patients And Methods: In a retrospective trial we evaluate the clinical efficacy and toxicity profile of a platinum- and taxanes-based adjuvant chemotherapy in completely resected IB-IIIA NSCLC. The primary end point was relapse- free survival (RFS); principal secondary end points were overall survival (OS) and safety of the regimen.